J.J. Hickson

[dreamingof1964]

Let me first point out I'm not sure if there is already a thread topic out there like this.
Anyways, I just wanted a thread to talk about the work in progress that is J.J. Hickson.
I've been a fan of him since he started getting minutes last year. Now seeing him start most games this year, quite a few questions have sparked my mind. Watching the game yesturday basically sums up how I see J.J. I saw some ferocious dunks, hustle on defense to get rebounds. Though the glaring problem I see with J.J., as practical as it is, are his hands. It seems to me that every game I always see him dropping rebounds, dropping passes. Do we really think this is just being a young/raw player still? He seems to have worked on his defense and boxing out abilities. But, as many of the analysts have pointed out, hes basically dropped the 15ft jumper from his repetoire, which was his bread n butter earlier in the season.
Also, I see his minutes changing with regularity. Lebron seems to really like the guy, and we know that usually keeps a player on the team; see AV and boobie. But do we really think that he could be getting minutes to showcase him to a team to trade before the deadline, cutting his minutes to keep teams wondering? Or do we believe in him enough, that we're trying to get him seasoned by the playoffs, ready to be a big minute contributor. We will have Powe by then (fingers crossed). How good do we really think he is/has the potential to be?

 

[CleFan22]

-He isn't good at all on the defensive end.
-He lacks the rebounding tenacity in a PF
-He cannot create his own shot and only scores off dump passes or wide open dunks
-He just really isn't that bright of a player.
-He is very unreliable in close games against playoff competition, therefore he is/will not be used in the playoffs as a reliable big.
-He will be traded at or near the deadline.

 

[PIP]

JJ is not a deal breaker for me whatsoever.. He has talent, but I'm just not a believer in him nor have I ever been.. He can be in any trade as far as i'm concerned so long as we get what we need...

He has shown flashes, but I never have gotten the sense that he has a real feel for the game so to speak...He travels when he's isolated, he's inconsistent with his shot, he always has to put the ball down to gather himself, he's always out of position in the paint, and as you mentioned he has no hands whatsoever..

My question would be is he still a starter once Powe gets back and is healthy (*if that happens*)-- granted, Powe is not an ideal player to put next to Shaq, but neither is JJ... Teams leave him open all day for midrange jumpers and the Cavs rarely look to execute such a play with JJ, so you could essentially play Powe in the same role (i.e just finish around the basket)... Difference is, he knows how to get fouled, he's tougher around the rim and he has great hands and moves well off the ball... But, again, he has to prove he can play...

And it's not like they're going to start AV...

One would have to imagine the JJ experiment is over within 6 weeks or so...

BTW, we should have drafted CDR

 

[Pioneer10]

Wish we had a true minor league for the NBA where teams actually feel comfortable sending guys to develop. Right now the NBDL doesn't seem a place where teams like sending prospects.

JJ needs to work on catching the ball, finishing QUICKLY with authority, the midrange game, rotations, etc. Most of all it looks like he needs to just get more time on the court and develop some court awareness. Understand when to drive, go for a quick layup or to gather the ball etc. Basically he needs to be getting a lot of PT where he's actually a featured guy (i.e. minor league). I've been ambivalent about JJ but I could still see him developing into a player but in addition to not having a strong feeling that he will develop, I just don't know how long it will take him. He's still young and only had one year of college ball plus the back injury so there is still hope that it's just lack of overall playing time that is contributing to his deer in the headlights moments and not a Drew Gooden mental block that will never go away

 

[dreamingof1964]

He has talent, but I'm just not a believer in him nor have I ever been.. He can be in any trade as far as i'm concerned so long as we get what we need...

I would say I'd agree with this, with the trade for jamison as the exception. The fact of trading a young player that has had some flashes for a player as old as Jamison just doesn't make logical sense to me; even though I think Jamison would be great for us. I wouldn't be opposed to trading him him for west or randolph

He has shown flashes, but I never have gotten the sense that he has a real feel for the game so to speak...He travels when he's isolated, he's inconsistent with his shot, he always has to put the ball down to gather himself, he's always out of position in the paint, and as you mentioned he has no hands whatsoever..

You hit the nail on the head for what I was going for. Could be mistaken for rawness, but I think he's played enough, especially this year, to where I'd think that these misshaps would be diminishing. Yes, in addition to the hands I mentioned, you are completely right on in mentioning his other flaws, which I don't see just as "mistakes that young players make". It is more of just a lack of "feel" for the game, or basketball IQ in my opinion aswell.

My question would be is he still a starter once Powe gets back and is healthy (*if that happens*)-- granted, Powe is not an ideal player to put next to Shaq, but neither is JJ... Teams leave him open all day for midrange jumpers and the Cavs rarely look to execute such a play with JJ, so you could essentially play Powe in the same role (i.e just finish around the basket)... Difference is, he knows how to get fouled, he's tougher around the rim and he has great hands and moves well off the ball... But, again, he has to prove he can play...

And it's not like they're going to start AV...

One would have to imagine the JJ experiment is over within 6 weeks or so...

Exactly what I was thinking. While we're trying to retain LBJ this offseason, as shown in other threads, Ferry is also auditioning for his extension. J.J. obviously isn't working out, but putting Powe next to Shaq, as you said isn't exactly ideal, but I'd have to imagine he'll come back at a strength which will provide an immediate upgrade over J.J.

BTW, we should have drafted CDR

Lets be friends.

 

[The Oi]

BTW, we should have drafted CDR

Indeed. I was on board with that the whole way through. I watched him play quite a few games in college and I didn't have much doubt he could find ways to score in the NBA in spite of the unorthodox style that almost never really matters anyways.

If you can score, you can score. And CDR can do so in bunches.

 

[Spencer Hawes]

JJ just tweeted after reading this thread: Ungrateful bastards!

 

[PIP]

Indeed. I was on board with that the whole way through. I watched him play quite a few games in college and I didn't have much doubt he could find ways to score in the NBA in spite of the unorthodox style that almost never really matters anyways.

If you can score, you can score. And CDR can do so in bunches.

Yea, where's the Rush backers now ?

I'm talking to you CBBI and TyGuy :chuckles:

If anything else, we would have our Delonte replacement for when he spaces out... But back to JJ...

 

[Zen]

I would be absolutely shocked if JJ was getting minutes in a deep playoff run. Whether he is traded or simply benched there is absolutely no way he could get minutes in playoff intensity games with the many glaring holes in his game.

 

[Pioneer10]

I would be absolutely shocked if JJ was getting minutes in a deep playoff run. Whether he is traded or simply benched there is absolutely no way he could get minutes in playoff intensity games with the many glaring holes in his game.

Just Delonte? I'd rather have CDR starting then Parker

 

[The Oi]

I would be absolutely shocked if JJ was getting minutes in a deep playoff run. Whether he is traded or simply benched there is absolutely no way he could get minutes in playoff intensity games with the many glaring holes in his game.

Plus I heard he wipes standing up. And that's just not acceptable...

 

[Kongo Time]

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Replace Kwame Brown with JJ Hickson.

 

[Rick Astley]

Screamin' A. Smith speaks the truth. Did the Cleveland Cavaliers gave up a lot when they traded JJ Hickson for Chris F. (****ing) Bosh? You know what Smith would say. Almost the same thing.

 

[Kent State U]

JJ Hickson has the weakest hands in the league!!!

The ball is always going through his hands.

 

[Thunder]

He's such a great athlete, but he has NO feel for the game whatsoever. No nose for the ball, bad timing on everything, little mistakes that he can't seem to fix (like dribbling once after an offensive rebound instead of going back up). He just pisses me off sometimes but I hope he gets it together.